National Parks at Night

View Original

A Few Favorite Things: Our 2021 Night Photography Holiday Gift Guide

Chris Nicholson

Yes, it’s that time of year. Time for early nightfalls, time for northern lights, and time for thinking of the photographer in your life who’s looking for a little new cheer from a little new gear.

To help, for the sixth year in a row we bring you our National Parks at Night Holiday Gift Guide. It’s full of products that may or may not fit in stockings—or even, for that matter, might not even fit nicely in boxes and bows—but that are, regardless, sure to put a smile on any night photographer’s face.

The products we selected might help make that someone special’s photography better, or perhaps improve the experience of being outdoors at night. Or maybe one of these gifts will remind them of the amazing places they go, or help them showcase the images they made while there.

In addition to the blog post below, we’re also providing this gift guide as a free downloadable PDF e-book, so you can read it and reference it on any device, anytime, anywhere. Inside you’ll find products from major brands such as B&H Photo, BenQ, Bay Photo and Luxli, along with great little finds from smaller companies and even non-profits.

In addition to the product information, the e-book version includes a lot more photos, as well as special discount codes and offers.

Download your copy today by clicking here:

Note: If you decide to purchase any of the items in this gift guide, please consider using the links included, as many generate a small commission that helps us improve the National Parks at Night workshop program.

1Zpresso

Q2 Travel Coffee Grinder

We are big fans of traveling with our portable Aeropress espresso maker. For the ultimate in freshness, it’s best to get those beans whole and grind them when you are ready. It might seem like a lot of work but the 1Zpresso Q2 makes it easy and fun! This incredibly compact burr grinder fits inside your Aeropress and is solidly built. The wooden handle makes for quick and comfortable grinding—typically in 20 to 30 seconds. So step up your coffee game and impress your local barista with your grinding skills!

Acratech

GPSS Ball Head

Tripod heads are one of the most important pieces of equipment a photographer can buy. The best of the best operate smoothly and with precision, as well as being comfortable to use and strong enough to withstand repeated use with quality cameras on top. The Acratech GPSS is certainly one that stands heads and shoulders above the crowd. Made in the USA, by photographers, its travel-tripod-friendly minimalist design weighs less than 1 pound but is rated to support up to 25 pounds! The GPSS also has gimbal and pano-base capability, as well as an Arca-Swiss quick-release clamp.

Adventure Responsibly

National Park Stickers

We love our national parks and public lands. So do the folks at Adventure Responsibly. They love them so much that they donate 5 percent of their proceeds to the National Park Foundation, and they also donate to, organize and assist in local and national litter cleanup efforts. Among lots of cool stuff, check out their line of retro-design National Park Stickers for awesome places such as Acadia, Arches, Grand Teton and more. You’ll be helping support a company whose mission it is to promote outdoor awareness and stewardship. Plus you get to sport the cool merch. It’s a win-win.

B&H Photo

Gift Card

Struggling with what to get the photographer friend in your life? There’s one thing that’s guaranteed to make them smile: anything at B&H! As in, the gift that gives more, a B&H gift card. The gift card comes in both electronic and physical formats, and is available in denominations ranging from $20 to $1,000. They never expire, so if the recipient also can’t decide what to get, there’s no pressure to use it in a hurry.

Bay Photo Lab

Face Mounted Acrylic Prints

We recently received some acrylic test prints from Bay Photo and were very impressed! Acrylic images are printed on metal or LexJet FineArt metallic (our favorite) or Lustre surfaces. Better resolution is achieved with LexJet’s FineArt Paper versus printing on metal. You can choose the thickness of the acrylic, and you’ll be amazed at the extra depth and clarity it gives an image. Acrylic blocks are a fun way to make a family tabletop display of loved ones, but the Face Mounted Acrylic prints are a great way to celebrate night images. Choose from sizes 4x4 inches to 43x96, and opt for the sturdier Dibond backing.

Special offer: 20 percent off one order of select wall display prints from Bay Photo Lab with promo code “NPAN21.” Valid until December 13, 2021.

BenQ

SW270c Monitor

What you see is what you get. Or at least it should be. The computer monitor is that all-important interface between what we see in the field and our final images. And with so many options out there, deciding on the right monitor can be a frustrating experience—until you see a BenQ. With 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space covered and ample controls for calibrating the screen, their SW monitors are perfectly engineered for the discerning photographer. For a perfect balance between price and quality, we love the SW270C.

Special offer: $80 off the SW270C, $160 off the SW271C and $200 off the SW321C at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Benro

Arcasmart Sidearm

Let’s agree that smartphones are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Given that, why not make it easier during a night photo shoot to use app-based software and mount it right alongside your camera? The Benro Arcasmart Sidearm has a fold-out, adjustable phone holder so you can operate PhotoPills, Stellarium or your camera’s control app right next to your camera.

Black Friday deal: 25 percent off at B&H Photo through November 29, 2021.

Bookshelf

Photography & Night Books

If there’s one thing we can never get enough of, it’s books. There have been some great releases this year for lovers of night photography and our national parks and monuments. From the legendary Art Wolfe to National Parks at Night’s good friend Ken Lee to renowned parks photographer QT Luong, here’s a sampling with a little something for all tastes.

Coast Portland

XP6R Flashlight

The Coast XP6R is a beast in miniature. At less than 4 inches long and only 2.6 ounces, the XP6R flashlight delivers brightest-in-class light and travels anywhere. With three output modes and Coast’s patented slide focus, this tiny giant is powered by a Zithion-X rechargeable battery (charging cable included) but can also run on a CR123 lithium battery. Big things do come in small packages!

Special offer: 35 percent off at Coast Portland with promo code “PARKSATNIGHT.”

Coffeify

Starry Night Coffee & Tea Cup

A beautiful, elegant, handmade mug ready for sipping a hot coffee or tea before a night out photographing the sky, or perhaps as a wake-up on the morning after. Made of fine ceramic, the Starry Night Coffee & Tea Cup is delicate but strong, gilded with vibrant gold details, and sits on a carved wooden saucer.

Cognitive Surplus

Night Sky Wine Glasses

For wine as dark as a night sky, what better way to indulge than with a glass full of stars? Night Sky Wine Glasses are designed with stars and constellations, and even the Milky Way stretching across the heavens, all above a landscape of shoreline and hills and trees. Available with or without stems, depicting either Northern or Southern Hemisphere.

Field Made Co

Lens & Camera Indicators

One of the problems with working in the dark is that it’s … well, dark. So when you’re poking around your bag to find a piece of gear, any assistance is welcome. Enter Lens & Camera Indicators—labels for body caps and lens caps that sleekly identify what’s what in a camera bag. Available individually for a wide range of gear, or in cost-saving combination packs of common, brand-specific lenses.

Firefly Books

Astronomy References

Most night photographers aren’t astronomers, but they sure rely a lot on astronomy. So a little astronomical knowledge can go a long way toward helping to make better images, or to at least know a little more about what we’re shooting. Firefly Books has two references to help: the Backyard Astronomer’s Guide, a 400-plus-page hardcover that details all the things we can see at night and how to see them best, and the 2022 Night Sky Almanac, a guide to what we can expect all year from the moon, the stars, auroras and more.

Focus on Stars

Focusing Filter

Achieving critical focus is the most persistent problem for many night photographers, and for those who are still struggling with it, the Focus on Stars filter is the best aid we’ve found for doing just what the name says: focusing on stars. It’s a specialized version of a Bahtinov mask, which was originally developed as a focusing aid for telescopes, but has been modified and enhanced for use with wide-angle lenses. Designed by Hungarian photographer Gábor Tákacs, Focus on Stars makes it easy to nail your focus—on stars or on any point light source—every time.

Special offer: 15 percent off at Focus on Stars with promo code “FOS_NPAN.” Valid until December 15, 2021.

Good & Well Supply Co

National Park Candles

We love taking pictures of all the national parks, but one thing we could never bring back was the scent of the park. Until now! Good & Well Supply Co’s National Park Candles collection features over 40 parks. Their well-crafted scents will take you from Acadia to Zion and all the wonderful places in between. Candles are available in pint or half-pint sizes, and will easily transport you back to those wild and pristine lands!

Hog Island Press

Adventure Map

This land is our land, and what better way to seek out your next trip than with the Hog Island Press Adventure Map? It features not only the major national parks but also Great Trails and State Peaks. Use pins to mark off the ones you’ve been to and keep track of the wonderful places to go!

ID My Stuff

Identification Labels

Camera gear is precious. Not to mention expensive. We never want to lose a piece, but things happen. Increase the chances of seeing a lost piece again by providing the finder with your contact info! ID My Stuff makes the perfect custom Identification Labels for camera equipment. They’re durable and weather-resistant, come in various sizes for discreet or in-your-face exposure, and are available in seven colors so you can color-code gear.

Image3D

RetroViewer

If you want to celebrate a trip or an anniversary—or just enjoy your photos in a crazy-unique format—then the RetroViewer could be the funnest way! Who among us older folks didn’t have a View-Master in the 1970s? Everyone had the “Seven Wonders of the World” reel, right? Now you can make your own wonders and nostalgically wow your family and friends. Easy to upload your photos and edit the result.

International Dark-Sky Association

Membership

Chances are that light pollution has some sort of impact on your life. As the world’s population grows, our access to dark, star-filled night skies shrinks. The International Dark-Sky Association is dedicated to increasing awareness and providing information, education and resources to combat this global creep of illumination. You can help the IDA and your favorite night photographer by giving the gift of membership. Includes standing in the giftee’s local chapter; timely, relevant news and updates about nighttime protection efforts nearby and around the world; and access to special member resources.

Irix

30mm f/1.4 Dragonfly

For anyone looking for a new point of view, Irix’s fast 30mm f/1.4 Dragonfly lens could be the ticket to monster photos of the galactic core, not to mention sweet, sweet pano stitches. Featuring ultralow distortion, electronic diaphragm control and the hallmark Irix focus locking mechanism. Available for full-frame cameras in Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mounts.

Joshua Tree Coffee

Bali Kintamani

This limited-edition single-origin roast was carefully crafted to be enjoyed by a wide range of coffee drinkers. Grown in the Kintamani region of Bali at around 5,000 feet above sea level in volcanic loam soil, these beans have been naturally dry processed, lending to distinct earthy and fruity notes. Bali Kintamani is perfect for your Aeropress while on the road, or at home!

LaCie

D2 External Hard Drive

How many photos did we shoot this year? Do we all still have enough storage space to safely hold all those files? LaCie is one of the best hard drive companies out there and we feel confident storing our  hard-won images on their hard drives. Anyone looking to upgrade or add a backup external hard drive needs to look no further than the D2 Professional USB 3.2 Gen 2 Hard Drive that stores up to 18 TB.

Special offer: 10 percent off select LaCie Portable, Rugged and D2 external hard drives from B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Ledlenser

P6R Work

Earlier this year we were introduced to Ledlenser’s impressive line of flashlights. We especially like the P6R Work, which features a rechargeable battery, a color temperature of 4000 K and a CRI of 90, and four brightness settings ranging from 15 to 850 lumens. Especially useful is the “last used setting” memory: If you turn the light off from the low setting, it will come back on at low power. It’s one-stop shopping for all of your light painting needs!

Light Painting Brushes

Color Fiber Optics, Set of 4 Colors

This set of four Color Fiber Optics brushes (in pink, purple, blue and green) will delight the light writer seeking soft, electric lines in their creations. A unique effect is that you can artfully combine fiber optic colors with different flashlight colors to create nifty color mixing options. Comes with a plastic carrying case. Universal Connector required for use.

Luxli

Red Fiddle

Last year Luxli came out with our favorite low-level LED light, the Fiddle. It’s super compact, has a built-in and long-lasting internal battery and quickly charges with USB-C. Its capability to power down to .1 percent helps bring realistic lighting to night images. Originally released in black, a sharp-looking red Fiddle is now available. Use it in combination with a black Fiddle to quickly identify which is a main light and which is fill, or just use the red to be more festive!

Special offer: Special price of $199 at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Manfrotto

Befree GT XPRO

For anyone in need of an entry-level or second tripod that is super stable and won’t break the bank, the Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO is a perfect answer. Available in aluminum and the half-pound-lighter carbon fiber versions. Both feature a maximum load capacity of 26.5 pounds with a maximum height of 64.6 inches and folded length of 16.9 inches, as well as a built-in 90-degree column mechanism that’s great for tabletop or macro photography.

Special offer: 10 percent off at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Merrell

Night Sky Trail Shoes

A stellar shoe for the trailblazing stargazer—which is pretty much every night photographer. These trekkers are designed with us in mind. Night-sky pattern on the uppers, glow-in-the-dark outsole, and all the features you’d expect out of a quality trail shoe from a stand-up brand like Merrell. Night Sky Trail Shoes are available for only a limited time.

Midnight Society

Fake Park Patches

When we next ask you what your dream destination is, imagine … anyplace. And get an iron-on patch, sticker or pin to prove you’ve been there (even if it’s only in your imagination). Introducing Fake Park Patches! Tongue-in-cheek designs available for Tatooine National Park, Arrakis National Park, Fire Swamp National Park. Anyone presenting a Mordor National Park patch gets a free coffee from Matt on their next workshop with him.

My Bucket Journals

National Park Bucket Journal

Your friends love the national parks. You probably do too. To record adventures to the parks, or to make shooting notes about the photos being made or scouting notes for photos to be made in the future, the perfect travel companion is the National Park Bucket Journal. Each of the 63 U.S. national parks has its own two-page spread with info about the park, including geographical data, statistics and highlights to check out. Available in digital and 8.5x11-inch paper versions.

National Park Service

America the Beautiful Pass

In 1983 Wallace Stegner said, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” The establishment of the national parks and the recognition of their importance are as meaningful today as the day they occurred. For only $80 you can purchase the America the Beautiful annual park pass to begin or continue an exploration of America’s greatest idea. The annual pass provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five federal agencies, and the proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.

National Parks at Night

Instructor Books & e-Books

Looking for some national park and night photography inspiration and education that you can always have at your fingertips? Choose from one of the several written by members of the National Parks at Night team, available in both paperback and electronic formats.

2022 Wall Calendar

National Parks at Night’s sixth annual wall calendar, titled Night Light, will help the photographer stay inspired by and for night photography throughout 2022. The

12x12-inch calendar is printed on heavy-stock photographic paper, and is coil-bound for easy flipping from month to month.

In addition to 14 photos by the National Parks at Night instructors, the calendar includes dates for:

  • National Park Service events and holidays

  • astronomy holidays (yes, they exist)

  • equinoxes and solstices

  • new and full moons

  • meteor showers

  • supermoons

  • eclipses

Night Photography and Post-Processing Workshops

Send the photographer in your life on the adventure of a lifetime, crafting images under the night skies of some amazing destinations. Or get them online to learn how to better process their images. Tickets are available for several National Parks at Night courses and adventures:

Or if none of those sound like the perfect gift, then how about Online Tutoring?

Nisi

Soft Star Filter

Most night photographers have probably at least seen a “soft star” filter—one that makes bright stars and constellations more apparent in a night scene. We’ve always felt a little meh about them, but the new graduated Soft Star Filter by Nisi piqued our interest! Because it’s graduated, the effect can be kept away from the landscape and applied only to the stars. Definitely something a night photographer can have fun experimenting and getting creative with!

Special offer: 15 percent off select Nisi filters at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Nomadix

National Parks Night Towels

“A towel … is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” — Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

These multipurpose towels pack small and light and make you wonder why you ever used any other towel. Seriously, it’s hard to go back to “normal towels,” so best to buy two. Micro terry cloth made from recycled materials. Soft, durable and sand-resistant. Comes in a wide range of national park designs, including four National Parks Night Towels: Sequoia, Rocky Mountain, Olympic, Yosemite.

Novoflex

VR-System Slim Panorama System

German-engineered and manufactured, precision VR-System Slim Panorama System rig will support any mirrorless system and smaller DSLRs. Create repeatable dusk blends with star fields by using the adjustable detents. Expand the field of view by making multirow or 360-degree spherical panos. Even better, it disassembles for easy travel.

Special offer: $50 off at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Parks Project

Campfire Stories

We all love a great campfire story, and we all love a great national park. Parks Project brings those together in Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks. Get immersed in tales from legendary voices such as John Muir, Bill Bryson and Terry Tempest Williams, as well as from pioneer and indigenous writers. Stories in this 224-page hardcover focus on Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. And if you need something to wrap any of this guide’s gifts, pick up a few rolls of Iconic Parks Wrapping Paper!

PhotoPills

Lighthouse Shirt

Show your love for both lighthouses and the best scouting app in the photo world with a PhotoPills Lighthouse Shirt. It’s a classic-cut premium T-shirt available in eight sizes and four colors, cut separately for men and women. Double-stitched with reinforced seams at the shoulders, sleeves, collar and waist.

Rocky Talkie

Two-Way Radios

These are the radios we use on NPAN workshops to keep instructors and attendees all safe and in touch at night in vast natural spaces. Rocky Talkie radios were designed for skiers and climbers and anyone spending time in teams in the wilderness or in rugged environments. The specially designed lithium-ion battery lasts for 3 days, the LED display is shatterproof, the casing is weather-sealed, and despite being license-free, the radios have an effective range of 1 to 5 miles in rocky terrain.

Ruggard

EDC-80L Electronic Dry Cabinet

How do you care for your camera gear if your home is damp or humid? You could save all those desiccant packs from sneaker boxes, or you could get an EDC-80L Electronic Dry Cabinet. Avoid the awful consequences of mold growing in between lens elements, or even inside the camera. Store gear in a dry cabinet for both longevity and peace of mind.

She’s Birdie

Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

It’s designed by women, for women—but for anyone concerned about being out at night alone, a personal alarm can provide a touch of safety and security. Enter the Birdie, featuring a 130-decibel alarm and a flashing strobe light. The device doubles as a call for help and a deterrent from harm. Comes with a solid brass key chain and is available in 11 colors.

Shimoda 

Explore V2 Backpack 

Shimoda has revamped their popular compact backpack series with the Explore V2. Choose between a 25L, 30L or 35L version, as well as between a very nice army green or black. Shimoda is all about custom comfort, allowing the wearer to adjust their straps according to size, or even with a specialized women’s harness. Hike in comfort and still bring the core essentials!

Special offer: 10 percent off the full line of Shimoda Explore V2 bags at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Starry Landscape Stacker

Stacking Software

While digital cameras have come a long way in reducing high ISO noise, we as night photographers still want to push that envelope. But high ISOs come at a cost: noisier images. Enter Starry Landscape Stacker. This piece of software allows you to shoot starry night sky images at higher ISO’s and then, through the software’s powerful magic, produce an image that exhibits substantially less noise. For those wanting the cleanest Milky Way images, this is must-have software. For Mac only.

Tether Tools

ONsite Relay C

Tether Tools has revamped the power game with the brand new ONsite Relay C. Now with a USB-C connection and a slimmer profile, a photographer can connect directly into USB-C-powered cameras such as the Z 6II (not the Z 6) or use a corresponding coupler to get enough power to keep clicking well into the night. Great way to avoid changing batteries for multihour time-lapses and long exposures.

Tiffen

Star Effect Filter

Like many of the things from the 1980s, Tiffen’s star effects are making a comeback! Available in sizes from 32mm to 105mm, a Star Effect Filter turns any direct and bright light source (such as streetlamps and planets) into dramatic stars. Choose a normal four-point star or get up to 14 spikes with the Hyper Star Filter, or get the North Star Effect, which creates the classic four large points in between eight smaller points.

Special offer: 10 percent off select Tiffen Star Filters at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Vallerret

Markhof Pro V3

The Markhof Pro V3 is the next generation of Vallerret’s “take everywhere” photographer’s glove. The glove has some major improvements in its third iteration, with the most important being more insulation without compromising dexterity. The flip fingers have an improved design to keep the cold out, with better finishing at the openings and stronger magnets to hold them open. Two new sizes have been added for those with slim hands, while the original sizes have been updated to better align with other Vallerret gloves. And 1 percent of Vallerret’s global sales go directly to environmental nonprofits.

Special offer: 10 percent off at Vallerret with code “PARKSATNIGHT10.” Valid until December 31, 2021.

Wildcoat

Bear Coat

Why be afraid of bears when you can become one? These hip winter Bear Coat jackets repel water, and perhaps humans. They also have fun bear-faced hoods, soft claw mitts built in and tons of pockets. When you’re ready to shred a long exposure, don one of these fun jackets and do it in style. 

Note: Remember, this gift guide is also available as a free downloadable PDF, with lots more photos and a ton of discount codes. Download yours today by clicking the image above.

Chris Nicholson is a partner and workshop leader with National Parks at Night, and author of Photographing National Parks (Sidelight Books, 2015). Learn more about national parks as photography destinations, subscribe to Chris' free e-newsletter, and more at www.PhotographingNationalParks.com.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS FROM NATIONAL PARKS AT NIGHT

See this gallery in the original post